Radio Atlantic, IA – AM 1220

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., Feb. 12th 2013

February 12th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — One of the nation’s largest trucking companies has settled a closely watched sexual harassment lawsuit for $50,000. Now, it might try to recoup millions of dollars in legal fees. CRST Van Expedited has agreed in a settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to pay the lone female driver remaining in what had been a class-action case the EEOC filed in 2007. The agency once sought relief for up to 270 women who were allegedly harassed by male instructors or drivers for company. But a federal appeals court ruled that the EEOC erred by filing the lawsuit before it identified every affected worker, investigated their claims and sought informal settlements.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has high expectations for Iowa’s students. He wants the state to be in the top 10 states for student standardized reading and math scores by 2019. Branstad laid out the goal yesterday as he continued to push lawmakers to approve his $187 million education reform plan. Lawmakers are reviewing Branstad’s proposal, but there has been some conflict with Democratic legislators who want to first set a general level of school funding.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic proposal to expand Medicaid in Iowa had plenty of backing at a packed legislative hearing. All those who testified yesterday at the human resources subcommittee favored the legislation, which would broaden state eligibility requirements for Medicaid and add up to 150,000 Iowans to the program. The subcommittee will hold another hearing on the proposal later this month.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The president of the University of Iowa says she’ll push for a tuition freeze for undergraduate students. That’s as long as the Legislature approves inflationary increases in the school’s budget. Iowa President Sally Mason told The Des Moines Register that she’ll back a tuition freeze for undergraduates as long as she’s president.